VIRGINIA TECH FRESHMAN WR GETS AN ANTONIO FREEMAN COMPARISONVIRGINIA TECH'S ISAIAH FORD GETS AN ANTONIO FREEMAN COMPARISON

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer has high praise for true freshman wide receiver Isaiah Ford.

In a bit of a surprise for a team that returns two starters and another part-time starter at the position, Ford has earned a starting spot for the Hokies for Saturday's season opener against FCS opponent William & Mary.

Beamer was asked at his weekly Monday news conference to compare Ford to a previous receiver he has coached.

"Maybe an Antonio Freeman?" Beamer said. "He makes plays. He's got some height to him."

Freeman is a former Hokies standout who played for nine seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Beamer is especially impressed with Ford's athleticism; Ford (6-foot-1, 174 pounds) plans to walk on to Virginia Tech's basketball team when the football season ends.

"There have been a lot of football guys that wanted to play basketball, but he's the first one I ever thought that actually could play basketball, too," Beamer said. "He's just a gifted athlete, he's got a great head on his shoulders, he's smart, he keeps everything in perspective. I think he's the real deal."

Tech has lacked a true go-to receiver for much of the past decade, and has had just two players with as many as 54 catches in the past seven seasons. Yes, the Hokies are a run-oriented team, but having a receiver who demands defensive attention is a need. Ford seems unlikely to be that guy this season -- the Hokies likely will look to sophomore Joshua Stanford to be that guy this fall -- but could develop into one in the next season or two.

Ford played at small-school powerhouse Jacksonville Trinity Christian in high school and was a consensus three-star recruit. He chose Virginia Tech over Arkansas, Louisville and Florida.

Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.